Hydraulic barker with multiple nozzle oscillating linkage



m PE um I LK Wm m TC mm MR EL HK R Sm C .B% wi Mm DN Y H Filed Nov. 18,1948 Nov. 27, 1951 c, SHAW ETAL 2,576,861

HYDRAULIC BARKER WITH MULTIPLE NOZZLE OSCILLATII\G LINKAGE 3Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1948 Nov. 27, 1951 E. c. SHAW ETAL 5HYDRAULIC BARKER WITH MULTIPLE NOZZLE OSCILLATING LINKAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed Nov. 18, 1948 mu /W Patented Nov. 27, 1951 HYDRAULIC BARKERvvrrn MULTIPLE oz znnoscrnrarrne LINKAGE Ernest 0. Shaw, Milwaukee, andMelvin L. Jensen, Waukesha, Wis., assignors" to Allis=Ghalmers Manufactuin fl mna Mi e s, a

torr n al! of ela Application November 18, 194$, Serial No. 60,744 15Claims, (01. 144-1208) This invention relates generally to the improveement of devices for treating the surfaces of cylinedrical work pieces,and, more particularly, work pieces in the nature of logs or the like.

It has been known to the inventors that logs or the like may bemechanically barked and cleaned by surface treating elements and thatsuch surface treating may advantageously be applied to the log or thelike by supporting power operated surface treating elements at a fixedstation and applying them to the surface of a work piece as th same passs the a on, p p l by hand or power operated conveyer means. The surfacetreating element in most instances is limited as to the arc ofcircumference treated. To overcome this, the log can be rotated as itpasse the stati n so ha a s r ace. p rti n a tr te by a s n e men t ha bn ound ven aseus w r t a o d e tie i e, sQ'i a i s ises a b en empl d 9N W f r tm 3 ar u d th P h r without work piece rotation, as the workpiece passes in one direction.

It is found desirable, if possible, to have the work piece travel alonga'fixed path orbed', and to have the treating elements adjustable tovarious work piece diameters.

One known type of log barking and cleaning device involves use of highvelocity 'jets of liquid to erode and knock off'bark and other foreignmatter without injuring the sound wood of' a log. However, the size ofjet that will work efficiently, and the available power supply, may bothbe limited, and there are other practical reasons why a limited numberof jets must be used, with a high relative speed of travel of the pointof impact of the jet on the log surface. It is also found that for anygiven jet nozzle, pressure of fluid supply and character of bark, therewill be an optimum distance from the nozzle tip to the log, at which thebest results will be obtained.

One form of hydraulic 10g barker heretofore suggested would involveequipment for passing a log longitudinally, and withoutrotation, past astationat which a limited number of nozzles are oscillated in planestransverse to the log axis, so that each noz zie will remove bark fromand clean a broad strip of surface, covering as much as one-quarter orone-third or even half of the log circumference. It would do this byactually tracing sinusoidal path at such high frequency with relation tolog travel and its impact pattern area, that thestrips cleaned wouldoverlap to give full surface coverage. However, adjustment of such anarrangement to-handling of logs of various diameters is a difiicultpractical problem.

The nature of the present invention is the pro vision 'of a novelcombination of elements for positioning a plurality of surface treatingelements'with relation to a 'conveyer bed, along which logs or the likemay be longitudinally conveyed without rotatiomin such a 'manner thatsuch surface treating elements may be simul taneously moved to"accommodate logs, or the like, of various diameters. More particularly,the nature of the present invention is in the provision' in such acombination of a novel mechanism for so supporting such surface treatingelements that points on such elements will coincide with points on thecircumference of a circle concentrio with a given log or the like onsuch bed, such mechanism having a control portion actuable to so movesuch surface treating elements, simultaneously and proportionally, thatthe same points may be made to coincide with similar points of a systemof circles concentric with logs, or the like, of various diameters, onsaid bed.

The invention also includes provisions for oscilr. lation of the surfacetreating elements and conditioning of the oscillating mechanism toeffectively accommodate logs, and the like, of various sizes, inresponse to changes in the position of th elements, reiative to the bed,bythe support ing mechanism.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved device forhydraulically barking and cleaning logs, or the like, and having ad-'vantageous 'adjustability to the handling of a series'of logs of variousdiameters, moving con tinuously past the point of treatment. Theinvention having the above and still further objects and advantages,which will be apparent from a reading of this specification, may best becarried into practical effect as described hereinbelow, with referenceto the drawing in which:

Fig. l is a partial side view of a hydraulic barker embodying thepresent invention;

Fi 2 is a left end View of the barker of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail endview to an enlarged scale of a nozzle supporting control and oscillatingmechanism according to" the present invention as embodied in the barkerof Figs. 1

and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the parts shown in a differentposition; Fig. 5is a schematic view of an automatic con trol system forthe device of Figs. '1, 2, 3 and 4; and v V.

3 Fig. 6 is a detail side view of a nozzle mounting of the mechanism ofFig. 3.

A preferred form of machine for barking and cleaning logs will bedescribed to illustrate a practical embodiment of the present invention.

Such a machin comprises a barking station, en-

closed by housing I, for the prevention of splash, and conveyermechanism such as roller conveyers 2 and 3 arranged to convey logs tothe station, pass the logs longitudinally through the station, and carrythe same away, without log rotation. In the device shown in the drawing,conveyers 2 and 3 are covered or housed in for a substantial distanceadjacent the feed and discharge ends of the barking station housing I. Ahopper bottom A is connected with the barking station housing I andconveyer housings 2 and 3 to receive and lead off bark and waterresulting from operation of the machine. The conveyers 2 and 3 may, asshown, consist of a series of shafts 6, journaled for rotation on axesextending transversely across the conveyer housings, carrying rolls 7 ofspool like form, the upper surfaces of which form a trough like rest inwhich an elongated cylindrical work piece, such as a log or the like,will naturally lie in a substantially horizontal position with itslongitudinal axis substantially in a vertical plane through themidsection of the rollers. It will be seen that conveyers 2 and 3, orrolls 7, suitably driven as by the conventional bevel gear arrangementillustrated in the drawing, will establish a bed or path along which alog, or the like, of any size, will be conveyed. Thus, logs of variousdiameters will be carried through the barking station I, with theirlowermost surface portions at about the same level with relation to thehousing I, while their upper surface portions will be at variouselevations, depending upon the diameter of the log, or the like.

Within the barking station or housing I, is a framework, including endplates 8, connected by longitudinal struts 9. Plates 8 are pierced byaligned holes II, which provide an opening through which logs, or otherelongated cylindrical work pieces, may be passed. It will be seen that awork piece, in passing from conveyer 2 to conveyer 3, must bridge thegap between the endmost rollers 7 of the two conveyers, within thestation housing I, so that, at this point, a complete circumferentialband of work piece surface is exposed. Surrounding the openings II,within the housing I, is a plurality of hydraulic nozzles I2, I3, I4,and I5 arranged with their jet forming orifices directed in the generaldirection of the space within which the above mentioned exposedcircumferential band of work piece surface will be located. Each of thenozzles is connected with a source of hydraulic fluid under highpressure, as by a flexible connector II, pipe I8 and manifold I9 (towhich a high pressure liquid pump may be connected as is well known inthe art). The nozzles are arranged within the housing I so that theirtips, in one operational position, will coincide with the intersectionsof equiangularly spaced radii with a circle concentric to a log, or thelike, of given diameter, in position on rollers I.

In-order to provide for variously positioning the nozzles so that thedistances from their tips to the circumferential surfaces of logs ofvarious diameters may be kept substantially equal, to take advantage ofthe conditions under which the nozzles will most effectively treat thesurface to be treated, the nozzles are mounted on carrier shoes 2I, 22,23 and 24 which are slidably mounted on guide tracks 25, 26, 21 and 28,respectively. In the device illustrated, these tracks are supported onthe framework within housing I, to establish paths for nozzle motionwhich lie substantially in a plane radial to the path of motion ofobjects to be treated along the conveyers 2 and 3. The angles whichthese tracks make with the horizontal are determined, for any givennumber of tracks and nozzles, by parallelism with a system of straightlines which approximately contain the points of intersection of acorresponding plurality of equiangularly spaced radii with theperipheral surfaces of a series of cylinders corresponding tocylindrical work pieces of various diameters supported by conveyerrollers 1. By so arranging the tracks, the nozzle carrying shoes may, bya suitable linkage, be connected to a single control which can move themproportional distances along the tracks, in accordance with the diameterof the work piece, in such a manner that the nozzle tips may be made tocoincide with equally spaced points on the periphery of a circleconcentric with any given work piece and spaced radially therefrom by apredetermined amount consistent with effective operation.

In the mechanism illustrated in the drawing, the linkage connecting thenozzle carrying shoes comprises links 23, connected with bell cranklevers 3| suitably pivoted in the station housing I, and links 32,connecting bell cranks 3I with another pair of bell cranks 33, pivotallymounted in the lower part of housing I. Bell cranks 33 are connected bylinks 34 to shoes 22 and 23. The shafts 35, upon which bell crank levers33 are mounted, are provided with additional lever arms 37, connected bya link 38; and one of the shafts 35 is provided with a toothed gearsegment 39, which meshes with a rack 4I, connected with a hydraulicservomotor 42. It will be seen that motion of the rack 4| will oscillatebell cranks 33 and 3i, the arms of which may be so propcrtioned that theshoes 2I and 24 will move so that the nozzles may be simultaneouslyadjusted, from a position in which they are radial to a work piece of agiven diameter, to a position in which they will be substantially radialto a work piece of a different diameter.

In the operation of hydraulic barkers it has been found that there arelimitations on the size of nozzles and the width of the strips of barkwhich any given nozzle will remove from a log, which make it impracticalto remove bark all about the circumference of a large log by passing itonce through a ring of stationary nozzles with any reasonably smallnumber of nozzles. However, since the relative speed of travel of thehydraulic jet formed by a nozzle and the log surface may be quite high,it will be practical, in the device illustrated in the drawing, to barka large log in one pass through the machine, if the four nozzles shown(or any other reasonably small practical number) are caused to oscillatein a plane substantially normal to the path of travel of the work piece,through such an are that the jets may trace a sinusoidal path on the logsurface as it passes, the amplitude of the path and the frequency ofoscillation being so chosen that the strips of bark removed will overlapand the entire surface of the log be covered. Since the machine will notbe efficient if there is too much overlapping of areas covered by theseveral jets, or if the jets miss contact with the work piece surface,

it desirable to provide a nozzle oscillating mechanism which willsimultaneously oscillate the jets through arcs dependent upon the sizeof the Work piece being treated. Such a mechanism is illustrated in thedrawing and includes rotating crank shaft 43 with connecting rods 4t andactuating blocks 45 which are reciprocated in tracks ll on the housingI. Tracks 41 are arranged substantially perpendicular to tracks and 28,respectively. Lever arms 48 and 49, on nozzles 52 and i5 respectively,are slidably and pivotally connected with blocks 45, in such a mannerthat movement of shoes 24 and H will result in a lengthening andshortening of the effective length of lever arms 48 and 49, so thatoscillation of nozzles I2 and 55, caused by the constant reciprocatorymovement of blocks 45, will vary in amplitude as a result of movement ofshoes 2| and as. It will be seen from an inspection of the drawings,that upward movement of shoes 2! and 24, to accommodate logs of largediameter, will result in a shortening of lever arms 43 and 48, so thatthe angle of oscillation of nozzles l2 and i5 will be increased as thelog size is increased. The proportions of the various links and leversof the mechanism shown may be so chosen that when the nozzles are set,by movement of segment as, for a log of any given diameter, theamplitude of nozzle oscillation will substantially equal that a requiredfor each nozzle to cover one-quarter of the surface of the work piece.

Nozzles i3 and it are connected to nozzles l2 and I5, respectively, byanother linkage, consist" ing of lever arms 5! and 52, 53 and 5 5, pairsof links 55 and 57 connected at one end to the opposite ends of leverarms 52 and 53, and El and respectively, and at their other ends toconnecting links 58. The parts 5i to 5-3, inclusive, form parallelmotion devices which, in the present mechanism, have the function ofkeeping lever arms 5| and 52, and 53 and E i, constantly parallel, sothat, when nozzles 52 and [5 are oscillated, nozzles I3 and M will beoscillated through exactly equal angles.

Fig. 3 of the drawing shows the nozzles and mechanism described, inposition for handling a log of large diameter; the nozzles are in theirneutral position of oscfllation, being all directed toward the centralaxis of the log. "With the mechanism in this position, rotation of thecrank shaft 43 will, owing to the shortness ofthe effective length oflever arms 48 and ti), cause a large amplitude of nozzle oscillation,suflicient to cover a full quarter of the circumference. Fig. 4 showsthe parts with the nozzles adjusted in a neutral position radial to alog of small diameter and it will be seen that, with the nozzles in thisposition, rotation of crank shaft '43, acting on the long efiectiveradius of lever arms 48 and 49, will cause only a small angularamplitude of nozzle oscillation, so that the jets directed by thenozzles will not miss contact with a log of small diameter such as isshown in position on the conveyor rollers.

The control of the positions of shoes 2! to 2d may be accomplished byprovision of a feeler arm 59 with a roller or rider wheel 6! adjacent tothe station I. Roller ill will take a position determined by the heightabove the rollers of the uppermost surface of the work piece enteringthe station, and its movement will be communicated to a lever arm 62,connected by link 53 with a floating lever 64 of a servomotor-controlvalve 65 of known type, capable of supplying operating fluid to oppositeends of servomotor 42, so that movement of feeler arm 59 will cause acorresponding movement of rack 4| and segment 39. Movement of shaft 35by segment 39 will be communicated to floating link 64 as by a suitablecrank arm 68 and link 69. It will be clear that any other suitable knownmechanism for causing the control shaft 35 to respond in a definitemanner to movements of the feeler arm 59, may be used in place of thehydraulic servo mechanism shown.

Inoperation, suitable pumps and motors are energized to drive conveyors2 and 3, supply fluid under pressure to the nozzles I2-l5 and servomotor42, and rotate crank shaft 43. Logs, or the like, to be barked orcleaned, are fed to the feed end of conveyer 2, one after another, andare moved lengthwise toward station 5. The rider wheel 6! is lifted bycontact to a height deter-' mined by the log size, movingarm 59 whichsets the nozzle operating mechanism to the proper adjustment for a logof the size being handled. As the log passes the plane of the nozzles,the jets act to clean or bark its peripheral surface, each a nozzleoscillating so as to clean approximately one-quarter of the surface asthe log passes. When the leading and of the log passes the nozzle planeit comes into contact with conveyor 3, which carries it on beyond thebarking station.

It is considered obvious that suitable known conveyer speed controls(not shown) may be used to slow conveyor speed for large logs, and thatsuch controls can, in any known manner, be made to automatically respondto movement of feeler arm 59, in such a manner that conveyer speed willbe automatically varied in inverse proportion to log diameter.

While a particular form of machine embodying the present invention hasbeen illustrated having as a purpose the barking and cleaning of logs byhydraulic jet action, it will be understood that the mechanism forsimultaneously adjusting the positions of a plurality of nozzles couldbe applied to adjustably positioning surface treating elements of otherkinds, such as rigid or flexible cutting tools, brushes, hammers, paintsprays or other known surface treating devices. The present invention istherefore not limited to the precise details of the illustratedmechanism, but includes such modifications and equivalents as mayreadily occur to persons skilled in the art to which it appertains,within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device for treating logs or the like, a treating station, logssupporting rest means, adjacent said station and fixed in positionrelative thereto, having level fixing portions on which logs or the likeof various diameters will lie naturally in stable longitudinallyhorizontal attitudes, with their lowermost longitudinal surface elementsin a substantially fixed level path through said station, and with acircumferential band of surface exposed at said station, log propellingmeans associated with said rest means and adapted to propel a loglongitudinally relative to said rest means and through said station, aplurality of log surface treating elements surrounding said path of logmovement at said station and being pivotally mounted for oscillationabout relatively movable axes perpendicular to a plane normal to saidpath of log movement established by said and conveyor means, and logsurface treating element supportingmechanism connecting said surfacetreating elements in movable relation to said station and having acontrol portion movable to move said surface treating elementssimultaneously and proportionally relative to said rest means in such amanner that points on said surface treating elements coincident withequiangular, spaced points on a circle concentric with a given log orthe like on said rest means may be made to coincide with similar pointson a system of circles concentric with logs or the like of other andvarious diameters on said rest means, said surface treating elementsupporting mechanism comprising a plurality of guide tracks at saidstation parallel to straight lines approximately containing a series ofpoints determined by the intersections of a corresponding plurality ofequiangularly spaced radii of cylinders of various diameters positionedon said rest means with the peripheral surfaces of the respectivecylinders, and a corresponding plurality of shoes slidably guided onsaid tracks and connected with said station by a proportional motionlinkage including said control portion.

2. In a device for treating logs or the like, a treating station, logssupporting rest means, adjacent said station and fixed in positionrelative thereto, having level fixing portions on which logs or the likeof various diameters will lie naturally in stable longitudinallyhorizontal attitudes, with their lowermost longitudinal surface elementsin a substantially fixed level path through said station, and with acircumferential band of surface exposed at said station, log propellingmeans associated with said rest means and adapted to propel a loglongitudinally relative to said rest means and through said station, anda plurality of fluid jet forming nozzles surrounding said path of logmovement and being arranged to project fluid jets in the direction ofsaid exposed circumferential band of surface of a log or the like atsaid station, said nozzles being pivotally mounted for oscillation aboutrelatively movable axes perpendicular to a plane normal to said path oflog movement established by said rest and conveyer means, and supportingmechanism connecting said nozzles in movable relation to said stationand having a control portion movable to move said nozzle elementssimultaneously and proportionally relative to said rest means in such amanner that points on said nozzle elements coincident with equiangular,spaced points on a circle concentric with a log or the like on said restmeans may be made to coincide with similar points on a system of circlesconcentric with logs or the like of other and various diameters on saidrest means, said nozzle supporting mechanism comprising a plurality ofguide tracks at said station parallel to straight lines approximatelycontaining a series of points determined by the intersections of acorresponding plurality of equiangularly spaced radii of cylinders ofvarious diameters positioned on said rest means with the peripheralsurfaces of the respective cylinders, and a corresponding plurality ofshoes slidably guided on said tracks and connected with said station bya proportional motion linkage including said control portion.

3. In a device for treating logs or the like, a treating station, logssupporting rest means, adjacent said station and fixed in positionrelative thereto, having level fixing portions on which logs or the likeof various diameters will lie naturally in stable longitudinallyhorizontal attitudes, with their lowermost longitudinal surface elementsin a substantially fixed level path through said station, and with acircumferential band of surface exposed at said station, log propellingmeans associated with said rest means and adapted to propel a loglongitudinally relative to said rest means and through said station, anda plurality of fluid jet forming nozzles surrounding said path of logmovement and being arranged to project fluid jets in the direction ofsaid exposed circumferential band of surface of a log or the like atsaid station, said nozzles being pivotally mounted for oscillation aboutrelatively movable axes perpendicular to a plane normal to said path oflog movement established by said rest and conveyor means, thecombination comprising nozzle supporting mechanism connecting saidnozzles in movable relation to said station and having a control portionmovable to move said nozzle elements simultaneously and proportionallyrelative to said rest means in such a manner that points on said nozzleelements coincident with equiangular, spaced points on a circleconcentric with a log or the like on said rest means may be made tocoincide with similar points on a system of circles concentric with logsor the like of other and various diameters on said rest means, andnozzle oscillating mechanism connected with said station havingrelatively movable portions engaging said nozzles, said nozzleoscillating mechanism connecting said nozzles for simultaneousoscillation through substantially equal angles and having a variableportion responsive to changes in position of said nozzle supportingmechanism to vary the angle of oscillation of said nozzles.

4. In a device for treating logs or the like, a treating station, logssupporting rest means, adjacent saidstation and fixed in positionrelative thereto, having level fixing portions on which logs or the likeof various diameters will lie naturally in stable longitudinallyhorizontal attitudes, with their lowermost longitudinal surface elementsin a substantially fixed level path through said station, and with acircumferential band of surface exposed at said station, log proroundingsaid path of log movement and being arranged to project fluid jets inthe direction of said exposed circumferential band of surface of a logor the like at said station, said nozzles being pivotally mounted foroscillation about relatively movable axes perpendicular to a planenormal to said path of log movement established by said rest andconveyor means, the combination of nozzle supporting mechanismconnecting said nozzles in movable relation to said station and having acontrol portion movable to move said nozzle elements simultaneously andproportionally relative to said rest means in such a manner that pointson said nozzle elements 00-- incident with equiangular, spaced points ona circle concentric with a log or the like on said rest means may bemade to coincide with similar points on a system of circles concentricwith logs or the like of other and various diameters on said rest means,and nozzle oscillating mechanism comprising a pair of equivalent cranklevers each connected with one of said nozzles and extending in theplane of movement thereof, two pairs of links of equal lengths pivotallyconnected at opposite ends to each other and to opposite ends of saidcrank levers, an additlonal link of length substantially equal to saidcrank levers, connecting the pivot axes on which said pairs of links areconnected with each other, said links and crank levers forming two equalparallelograms with a common side connecting said nozzles forsimultaneous oscillation through substantially equal angles, and meansfor oscillating one of said nozzles through an are proportional to itsdistance from the mean path of movement of logs or the like on said restmeans.

5. Hydraulic jet forming nozzle elements supporting and positioningmeans for a device for directing a plurality of oscillating hydraulicjets at a circumferential band of generally cylindrical work pieces ofvarious diameters traveling longitudinally with lower surface portionsfollowing a substantially horizontal path determined by a bed,comprising a frame connected with said bed and surrounding said path ina plane substantially normal thereto, a plurality of shoes supportingsaid nozzles for oscillation about axes substantially parallel to saidpath and mounted on guide tracks on said frame having their directionalaxes parallel to a system of straight lines approximately containing theintersections of a corresponding plurality of equiangularly spaced radiiof cylinders of various diameters positioned on said bed with theperipheral surfaces of the respective cylinders, a control mechanismconnecting said shoes so designed and proportioned that said nozzles inone position being arranged with their orifices substantiallyequidistant from the surface of a cylindrical work piece of givendiameter on said bed, a single operation of said control mechanism inappropriate direction will position said nozzles with their orificessubstantially the same distance from the peripheral surface of a workpiece of different diameter on said bed, and power operated means tosimultaneously oscillate said nozzles through substantially equal anglesrelative to said shoes, said power operated means having a portionreciprocally mounted on said frame and a second portion of one of saidnozzles interconnected with said reciprocable portion in such a mannerthat the angle of oscillation of said nozzles by said means is varied inresponse to a change in position of said nozzles by said controlmechanism.

6. In a device for treating logs or the like, a treating station, logssupporting rest means, adjacent said station and fixed in positionrelative thereto, having level fixing portions on which logs or the likeof various diameters will lie naturally in stable longitudinallyhorizontal attitudes, with their lowermost longitudinal surface elementsin a substantially fixed level path through said station, and with acircumferential band of surface exposed at said station, log propellingmeans associated with said rest means and adapted to propel a loglongitudinally relative to said rest means and through said station, anda plurality of log surface treating elements surrounding said path oflog movement, and being pivotally mounted for oscillation about axesperpendicular to a plane normal to said path of log movement establishedby said rest and conveyor means, said axes being movable relative to themean path of log movement, the combination comprising log surfacetreating element supporting mechanism connecting said surface treatingelements in movable relation to said station and having a controlportion movable to move said surface treating elements simultaneouslyand pro portionally relative to said rest means in such a manner thatpoints on said surface treating elements coincident with equiangular,spaced points on a circle concentric with a given log or the like onsaid rest means may be made to coincide with similar points on a systemof circles concentric with logs or the like of other and variousdiameters on said rest means, and the bisectors of the angles throughwhich said treating elements 0s cillate intersect at said mean path oflog movement.

7. In a device for treating logs or the like, a treating station, logssupporting rest means, adjacent said station and fixed in positionrelative thereto, having level fixing portions on which logs or the likeof various diameters will lie naturally in stable longitudinally horiontal attitudes, with their lowermost longitudinal surface elements in asubstantially fixed level path through said station, and with acircumferential band of surface exposed at said station, log propellingmeans associated with said rest means and adapted to propel a loglongitudinally relative to said rest means and through said station, anda plurality of fluid jet forming nozzles surrounding said path of logmove,- ment and being arranged to project fluid jets in the direction ofsaid exposed circumferential band. of surface of a log or the like atsaid station, said nozzles being p-ivotally mounted for oscillationabout axes perpendicular to a plane normal to said path of log movementestablished by said rest and conveyer means with said axes movablerelative to the mean path of log movement, the combination comprisingnozzle supporting mechanism connecting said nozzles in movable relationto said station and having a control portion movable to move said nozzleelements simultaneously and proportionally relative to said rest meansin such a manner that points on said nozzle elements coincident withequiangular, spaced points on a circle concentric with a log or the likeon said rest means may be made to coincide with similar points on asystem of circles concentric with logs or the like of other and variousdiameters on said rest means, and the bisectors of the angles throughwhich said nozzles oscillate intersect at said mean path of logmovement.

8. Cylindrical surface treating elements supporting and positioningmeans for a device or treating generally cylindrical work pieces ofvarious diameters traveling longitudinally with lower surface portionsfollowing a substantially horizontal path determined by a bed,comprising a frame connected with said bed and surrounding said path ina plane substantially normal thereto and a plurality comprising four ormore of treating element supporting guide tracks on said frame havingtheir directional axes parallel to a system of straight linesapproximately contain ing the intersections of a corresponding pluralityof equiangularly spaced radii of cylinders of vari ous diameterspositioned on said bed with the peripheral surfacesof the respectivecylinders.

9. Cylindrical surface treating elements supporting and positioningmeans for a device for treating generally cylindrical work pieces ofvarious diameters traveling longitudinally with lower surface portionsfollowing a substantially horizontal path determined by a bed,comprising a frame connected with said bed and surrounding said path ina plane substantially normal thereto, a plurality comprising four ormore treating element supporting shoes slidably mounted on acorresponding plurality of guide tracks on said frame, said trackshaving their directional axes parallel toa system of straight linesapproximately containing the intersections of a corresponding pluralityof equiangularly spaced radii of cylinders of various diameterspositioned on said bed with the peripheral surfaces of the respectivecylinders, and control mechanism connecting said shoes and operable inopposite directions to slide said shoes simultaneously andproportionally in convergent or divergent directions.

10. Hydraulic jet forming nozzle elements supporting and positioningmeans for a device for directing a plurality of hydraulic jets at acircumferential band of generally cylindrical work pieces of variousdiameters traveling longitudinally with lower surface portions followinga substantially horizontal path determined by a bed, comprising a frameconnected with said bed and surrounding said path in a planesubstantially normal thereto, a plurality comprising four or more nozzleelement supporting shoes slidably mounted on a corresponding pluralityof guide tracks on said frame, said tracks having their directional axesparallel to a system of straight lines approximately containing theintersections of a corresponding plurality of equiangularly spaced radiiof cylinders of various diameters positioned on said bed with theperipheral surfaces of the respective cylinders, and control mechanismconnecting said shoes and operable in opposite directions to slide saidshoes simultaneously and proportionally in convergent or divergentdirections.

11. Hydraulic jet forming nozzle elements supporting and positioningmeans for a device for directing a plurality of hydraulic jets at acircumferential band of generally cylindrical work pieces of variousdiameters traveling longitudinally with lower surface portions followinga sub stantially horizontal path edetermined by a bed, comprising aframe connected with said bed and surrounding said path in a planesubstantially normal thereto and a plurality comprising four or morenozzle element supporting shoes slidably mounted on a correspondingplurality of guide tracks on said frame, said tracks having theirdirectional axes parallel to a system of straight lines approximatelycontaining the intersections of a corresponding plurality ofequiangularly spaced radii of cylinders of various diameters positionedon said bed with the peripheral surfaces of the respective cylinders,and control mechanism connecting said shoes so designed and proportionedthat said nozzles in one position being arranged with their orificessubstantially equidistant from the surface of a cylindrical work pieceof given diameter on said bed, a single operation of said controlmechanism in appropriate direction will position said nozzles with theirorifices substantially the same distance from the peripheral surface ofa work piece of different diameter on said bed.

12. Hydraulic jet forming nozzle elements supporting and positioningmeans for a device for directing a plurality of oscillating hydraulicjets at a circumferential band of generally cylindrical work pieces ofvarious diameters traveling longitudinally With lower surface portionsfollowing a substantially horizontal path determined by a bed,comprising a frame connected with said bed and surrounding said path ina plane substantially normal thereto, a plurality of shoes supportingsaid nozzles for oscillation about axes substantially parallel to saidpath and mounted on guide tracks on said frame having their directionalaxes parallel to a system of straight lines approximately containing theintersections of a corresponding plurality of equiangularly spaced radiiof cylinders of various diameters positioned on said bed with theperipheral surfaces of the respective cylinders, a control mechanismconnecting said shoes so designed and proportioned that said nozzles inone position being arranged with their orifices substantiallyequidistant from the surface of a cylindrical work piece of givendiameter on said bed, a single operation of said control mechanism inappropriate direction will position said nozzles with their orificessubstantially the same distance from the peripheral surface of a workpiece of different diameter on said bed, and power operated means tosimultaneously oscillate said nozzles through substantially equal anglesrelative to said shoes, said power operated means having a portionreciprocably mounted on said frame and slidably and pivotally connectedto a crank lever attached to one of said nozzles, by means of a blockslidably attached to a track fixed with respect to said station in aposition substantially perpendicular to the nozzle supporting track, tovary the effective length of said crank lever and vary the amplitude ofoscillation of said nozzle in proportion to its distance from the meanpath of movement of logs or the like on said rest means.

13. In a device for treating logs or the like, a treating station, logssupporting rest means, adjacent said station and fixed in positionrelative thereto, having level fixing portions on which logs or the likeof various diameters will lie naturally in stable longitudinallyhorizontal attitudes, with their lowermost longitudinal surface elementsin a substantially fixed level path through said station, and with acircumferential band of surface exposed at said station, log propellingmeans associated with said rest means and adapted to propel a loglongitudinally relative to said rest means and through said station, anda plurality of fluid jet forming nozzles surrounding said path of logmovement and being arranged to project fluid jets in the direction ofsaid exposed circumferential band of surface of a log or the like atsaid station, said nozzles being pivotally mounted for oscillation aboutrelatively movable axes perpendicular to a plane normalto said path oflog movement established by said rest and conveyor means, thecombination of nozzle supporting mechanism connecting said nozzles inmovable relation to said station and having a control portion movable tomove said nozzle elements simultaneously and proportionally relative tosaid rest means in such a manner that points on said nozzle elementscoincident with equiangular, spaced points on a circle concentric with alog or the like on said rest means may be made to coincide with similarpoints on a system of circles concentric with logs or the like of otherand various diameters on said rest means, and nozzle oscillatingmechanism comprising a pair of equivalent crank levers each connectedwith one of said nozzles and extending in the plane of move,-'

ment thereof, two pairs of links of equal lengths pivotally connected atopposite ends to each other and to opposite ends of said crank levers,an additional link of length substantially equal to said crank levers,connecting the pivot axes on which said pairs of links are connectedwith each other, said links and crank levers forming two equalparallelograms with a common side connecting said nozzles forsimultaneous oscillation through substantially equal angles, and poweroperated means to oscillate one of said nozzles, said power operatedmeans having a portion reciprocably mounted on said frame and a secondcrank lever attached to one of said nozzles slidably and pivot- 13 allyconnected with said reciprocable portion in such a manner that the angleof oscillation of said nozzles is varied in response to a change inposition of said nozzles by said movable control portion of said nozzlesupporting mechanism.

14. In a device for treating logs or the like, a treating station, logssupporting rest means, adjacent said station and fixed in positionrelative thereto, having level fixing portions on which logs or the likeof various diameters will lie naturally in stable longitudinallyhorizontal attitudes, with their lowermost longitudinal surface elementsin a substantially fixed level path through said station, and with acircumferential band of surface exposed at said station, log propellingmeans associated with said rest means and adapted to propel a loglongitudinally relative to said rest means and through said station, anda plurality of fluid jet forming nozzles surrounding said path of logmovement established by said rest and conveyer means, the combinationcomprising nozzle supporting mechanism connecting said nozzles inmovable relation to said station and having a control portion movable tomove said nozzles simultaneously and proportionally relative to saidrest means in such a manner that points on said nozzle elementscoincident with equiangular, spaced points on a circle concentric with agiven log or the like on said rest means may be made to coincide withsimilar points on a system of circles concentric with logs or the likeof other and various diameters on said rest means, said nozzlesupporting mechanism comprising a plurality of guide tracks at saidstation parallel to straight lines approximately containing a series ofpoints determined by the intersections of a corresponding plurality ofequiangularly spaced radii of cylinders of various diameters positionedon said rest means with the peripheral surfaces of the respectivecylinders, and a corresponding plurality of shoes slidably guided onsaid tracks, said nozzles being pivotally attached to said shoes foroscillation about axes perpendicular to a plane normal to said path oflog movement, and nozzle oscillating mechanism to simultaneouslyoscillate said nozzles through substantially equal angles relative tosaid shoes and including power operated means connected to one of saidnozzles having a variable portion responsive to changes in position ofsaid shoes upon said tracks to vary the angle of oscillation of saidnozzles.

15. In a device for treating logs or the like, a treating station, logssupporting rest means, adjacent said station and fixed in positionrelative thereto, having level fixing portions on which logs or the likeof various diameters will lie naturally in stable longitudinallyhorizontal attitudes, with their lowermost longitudinal surface elementsin a substantially fixed level path through said sta- 14 tion, and witha circumferential band of surface exposed at said station, logpropelling means associated with said rest means and adapted to propel alog longitudinally relative to said rest means and through said station,and a plurality of fluid jet forming nozzles surrounding said path oflog movement established by said rest and conveyer means, thecombination comprising nozzle supporting mechanism connecting saidnozzles in movable relation to said station and having a control portionmovable to move said surface treating elements simultaneously andproportionally relative to said rest means in such a manner that pointson said nozzle elements coincident with equiangular, spaced points on acircle concentric with a given log or the like on said rest means may bemade to coincide with similar points on a system of circles concentricwith logs or the like of other and various diameters on said rest means,said nozzle supporting mechanism comprising a plurality of guide tracksat said station parallel to straight lines approximately containing aseries of points determined by the intersections of a correspondingplurality of equiangularly spaced radii of cylinders of variousdiameters positioned on said rest means with the peripheral surfaces ofthe respective cylinders, and a corresponding plurality of shoesslidably guided on said tracks, said nozzles being pivotally attached tosaid shoes for oscillation about axes perpendicular to a plane normal tosaid path of log movement, and nozzle oscillating mechanism tosimultaneously oscillate said nozzles.

through substantially equal angles relative to said shoes and includingpower operated means having a portion reciprocably mounted on said frameslidably and pivotally connected to a crank lever attached to one ofsaid nozzles, by means of a block slidably attached to a track fixedwith respect to said station in a position substantially perpendicularto the nozzle supporting track, to vary the elfective length of saidcrank lever and vary the amplitude of oscillation of said nozzle inproportion to its distance from the mean path of movement of logs or thelike on said rest means.

ERNEST C. SHAW. MELVIN L. JENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,473,461 White June 14, 19492,488,041 Swift Nov. 15, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Science, page 79,September 1946.

